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A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE SIGNET CLASSICS EDITION OF
M A RY S H E L L EY ’ S
FRANKENSTEIN
by
LAURA REIS MAYER
S E R I E S
E D I T O R S :
JEANNE M. McGLINN and JAMES E. McGLINN
both at
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction............................................................................................................3
List of Main Characters...........................................................................................3
Synopsis of the Novel..............................................................................................4
Prereading Activities................................................................................................6
I. Building Background Knowledge in History and Culture............................7
II. Building Background Knowledge Through Exploration of Genre.............10
III. Building Background Knowledge in Language........................................12
IV. Building Background Knowledge Through
Initial Exploration of Themes........................................................................13
During Reading Activities.....................................................................................16
I. Analyzing Through Group Response..........................................................17
II. Analyzing Through Individual Response...................................................21
After Reading Activities.........................................................................................23
I. Topics for Discussion and Essays................................................................23
II. Group and Individual Projects..................................................................24
III. Comparisons and Connections................................................................26
Extending Reading................................................................................................28
About the Author of this Guide............................................................................30
About the Editors of this Guide............................................................................30
Free Teacher’s Guides............................................................................................31
Copyright © 2009 by Penguin Group (USA)
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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INTRODUCTION
March, 2009: In one of the most significant and controversial reversals of previous policy,
newly innaguarated U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order to permit
federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research. The ensuing debate continues
to rage in both congress and culture, centering around the following questions: At what
point does human life begin? Do human beings have the right to pursue science over
ideology, no matter the gains or sacrifices?
Mary Shelley’s 18th century Romantic novel Frankenstein raises the same questions about
a scientist’s quest to produce a living creature from human parts. When Dr. Frankenstein
abandons his creation out of horror and remorse, the monster sets out on a quest of his
own, to connect with the rest of human-kind. The parallel journeys of Dr. Frankenstein
and his creature lead both characters and readers to question the nature of humanity, the
rights of the living, and and the responsibility of science.
High school students are in a unique position to appreciate these questions as they are
facing many of the same issues: the roles of technology verses humanity, the search for
self-identity, and the responsibility they have to others. Students who remember
“Frankenstein” as a Halloween monster will be surprised to find themselves re-visioning
their view of Dr. Frankenstein’s creature, and will form contemporary connections as they
explore the role of parent-child relationships in Shelley’s Gothic tale.
This guide is designed to be accessible for a variety of learning styles and literacy needs.
Pre-reading activities are provided to prepare students for reading a Romantic novel, and
to challenge them to think about the dilemmas Dr. Frankenstein and his creature face.
During-reading activities ask students to read the text more critically and to engage in the
making of meaning. And Post-reading activities encourage students to process and extend
their thinking through a variety of written, verbal, and visual responses. The activities
offered in this guide can be used selectively by teachers in focusing on their course
objectives and student needs.
LIST OF MAIN CHARACTERS
Robert Walton — ship captain, explorer, and confidant of Frankenstein
Victor Frankenstein — scientist who designs a living creature from human remains
The Creature — the un-named human being created by Victor Frankenstein
Henry Clerval — Victor’s best friend and fellow student
Alphonse and Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein — Victor’s parents
Ernest and William Frankenstein — Victor’s brothers
Elizabeth Lavenza — Victor’s adopted cousin and wife
Justine Moritz — servant and friend of the Frankenstein family
Mr. DeLacey, Felix, Agatha, and Safie — Impoverished cottage family observed by the
Creature
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
SYNOPSIS OF THE NOVEL
WALTON MEETS FRANKENSTEIN: LETTERS
In a letter to his sister Margaret in England, Robert Walton expresses excitement over his
plans to discover a passage from Russia to the North Pole. He yearns for a friend to share
his dreams, despairs, and successes. What he finds is Victor Frankenstein, stranded and
nearly frozen on the ice, yet determined to continue his pursuit northward. Sensing that
Walton is a kindred spirit in his pursuit of knowledge and the unknown, Frankenstein
offers his history as a moral tale.
VICTOR’S EARLY LIFE: CHAPTERS 1-2
Victor begins his story by detailing his childhood in the Genevese Republic, starting with
his father Alphonse’s marriage to Caroline Beaufort. Victor was their only child for five
years, after which they adopted orphaned toddler Elizabeth Lavenza who they present to
Victor as “a pretty present.” He vows to protect and cherish Elizabeth as his very own
possession. The Frankensteins have two more sons, Ernest and William, and settle in
Geneva, Victor’s happy childhood home. Unlike his best friend Henry Clerval who wishes
to learn about “the virtues of heroes and the actions of men,” Victor desires to learn “the
secrets of heaven and earth.” Victor becomes enamored of natural philosophy and begins
reading esoteric authors, delving into “the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir
of life.” A violent lightning storm and the ensuing scientific explanation from a family
friend cause Victor to conclude that he should abandon these outmoded ideas.
CREATION OF THE MONSTER: CHAPTERS 3-5
At age seventeen, after the death of his mother, Victor leaves home to attend university
at Ingolstadt where he soon regains his fascination with the mysteries of natural science.
With the help of two professors, M. Krempe and M. Waldman, Frankenstein learns to
distinguish between ancient myths and current fact, resolving to “pioneer a new way to
unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation.” Victor spends the next two years
immersed in the study of chemistry, without returning to visit family and friends. In an
obsessive effort to discover the point at which life begins, Victor spends countless days
and nights in charnel houses studying decayed human forms. After two years of work
assembling his own creature, Frankenstein succeeds in bringing it to life. However, Victor
is disgusted by the creature’s appearance and abandons him upon sight. Escaping into
town, Victor is surprised to see Henry Clerval, who has just arrived at the university.
Overcome with the horror of his secret act, Victor becomes violently ill.
CONSEQUENCES: CHAPTERS 6-10
Clerval delivers a letter from Elizabeth, expressing concern for Victor’s illness and anxiety
for his long absence. She reports that Justine Moritz, cousin and family friend to the
Frankensteins, has come back to live in their home. Upon Victor’s recovery, he and Henry
turn their studies to the Oriental languages and decide to tour the Inglolstadt countryside.
Henry’s romantic appreciation of their surroundings has a restorative effect on Victor’s
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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health and psyche. His reprieve is shattered, however, when a letter from Alphonse
Frankenstein reports the strangulation death of Victor’s five year old brother, William.
As Victor and Henry return to Geneva, Victor catches a glimpse of his creature and
realizes that it is the murderer of young William. Arriving at home to his grief-stricken
family, he learns that Justine has been accused of the crime because a locket given to
William by Elizabeth has been discovered in Justine’s pocket. Although she is innocent,
Justine is pressured to give a false admission to the court, and even Elizabeth’s impassioned
defense fails to prevent Justine’s condemnation. Victor is overcome with guilt yet feels no
one will accept his fantastic explanation of the creature, and despairs to see William and
now Justine “the first hapless victims to (his) unhallowed arts.” In guilt and self-imposed
isolation, Victor is tempted to take his own life. He refrains from doing so only because
he feels it is his duty to protect his family from the creature, whom he “abhors” and
blames with growing intensity. To relieve his agony, Victor travels to the Chamounix
valley where he encounters the creature. Admonishing Frankenstein for abandoning his
own creation, the creature compares himself to a fallen angel. Although Victor curses the
creature, he is compelled to hear his tale.
THE CREATURE’S STORY: CHAPTERS 11-16
The creature describes his first experiences of the sights and sounds of Inglostadt. Similar
to a newborn baby, he learned to distinguish between day and night and to find food and
drink in the forests and streams. Nature became his home and his protector, and he
gradually discovered fire for cooking and warmth. Desiring the company of fellow human
beings, he entered a village but was met with screams and stones. Coming upon the
impoverished DeLacey family, the creature kept himself hidden while observing them for
several months. It was here he learned the beauty of music, the pleasure of reading, and the
power of the spoken word. Longing to join the cottagers, he secretly cuts their wood and
eventually approached the blind patriarch, attempting to befriend him. When his presence
is discovered by DeLacey’s son, the creature is cruelly rejected once again and forced to flee.
The creature continues his tale, explaining his suffering as he set out in the cold and snow
to find his creator. While on his journey, he rescued a young girl from drowning, and
when he was rewarded with a bullet, he “vowed eternal hatred and vengeance to all
mankind.” After two months, he reached Geneva, where he happened to encounter
young William in the woods. When William struggled and called him “monster,” the
creature strangled William. Then for revenge the creature plants William’s locket in the
sleeping Justine’s pocket. But he now knows what he wants, the creature explains to
Victor, a female creature made explicitly for him.
AFTERMATH: CHAPTERS 17-24
Frankenstein argues that the creature will only double his efforts to destroy mankind if
presented with a partner, and refuses despite the creature’s threats of revenge. Frankenstein
only relents when the creature promises exile from Europe. Upon his return to Geneva,
though, Victor delays the repugnant task. But when he considers marriage to Elizabeth, Victor
realizes he must give the creature his mate if he hopes for any peace. Fearful the monster
will kill his father, Elizabeth, or Henry, Frankenstein sets out to accomplish the task quickly.
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Victor settles in a hut on one of the Orkney isles, where he feels the landscape is as
miserable as the “filthy process” in which he is engaged. Near completion of the female
creature, Frankenstein worries he may be creating “a race of devils,” and when he sees the
creature spying upon him one night, Victor destroys his work. Returning to confront his
maker, the creature vows to Victor, “I shall be with you on your wedding night.” Victor
casts the remains of the female creature into the sea, but is cast adrift by high winds. After
a fearful struggle, Victor makes it to land, but is ordered to report to Mr. Kirwin, the
magistrate. Victor is shocked to find he is accused of killing a young man whose body has
just been found by local fishermen. Victor is agonized to recognize Henry Clerval and
immediately falls into a fever, and remains deathly ill for two months.
When his father comes to take him home, Victor is found innocent. Still melancholy,
Victor is determined to protect his loved ones. His wedding to Elizabeth is planned
quickly in hopes of relieving Victor of his continued anguish. Convinced the creature will
act on his threat to appear on his wedding night, Victor plans means of protecting
himself. To his great agony, Frankenstein discovers he has misinterpreted the creature’s
threat, for it is Elizabeth, not Victor, that the monster murders. Frankenstein finally
confides the entire tale to Geneva’s magistrate, who promises to seek justice but doubts
the possibility of success. Highly agitated, Frankenstein vows to devote himself, “either
in life or death,” to the creature’s destruction. For months Victor finds himself in a
perpetual game of hide and seek, leading to the northern lands where he must procure a
dog sled to continue on ice. It is here Frankenstein encounters the ship of Robert Walton.
WALTON’S CONCLUSION: LETTERS
The frame story is completed with a return to Robert Walton’s letters. Walton details how
Frankenstein reverts from calm to rage, and is saddened to note “what a glorious creature
must (Frankenstein) have been in the days of his prosperity, when he is thus noble and
godlike in ruin!” Rejecting Walton’s offer of friendship as a painful reminder of what he
has lost, Victor vows to fulfill his fate and destroy the being to whom he gave existence.
When Walton’s men demand he turn the ship around or risk losing all aboard to the ice,
Frankenstein encourages them to pursue their “glorious, honorable undertaking” or risk
disgrace. Yet Walton chooses to respect the power of nature and save his men’s lives. With
his death imminent, Frankenstein asks Robert to continue his pursuit of the creature but
then warns Walton to avoid ambition in pursuit of scientific discovery. In a troubling
state of inner-turmoil, Victor Frankenstein dies. When Walton later returns to his cabin,
he is shocked to find Victor’s creature, lamenting the fact that Victor can never pardon
him. The creature shares his tale with Walton, promising that Victor Frankenstein is his
last victim. The creature vows to surrender himself on a funeral pyre, finally ending the
wretched existence shared with Frankenstein.
PREREADING ACTIVITIES
These activities are designed to deepen students’ background knowledge of literary
symbols and traditions, and to introduce them to the novel’s major themes. (Note:
Consult other Teacher’s Guides to Signet Classics; they contain ideas that can be adapted
to prepare students to read and enjoy this novel).
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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I. BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE IN HISTORY AND CULTURE
PATRIARCHY AND THEORIES OF LOCKE AND ROUSSEAU:
CRITICAL READING & CORNELL NOTES
Because the setting and characters in Frankenstein are so intricately tied to the culture of
Shelley’s time, it would be useful to review the patriarchal system and the educational theories
of Locke and Rousseau with students prior to reading the novel. A discussion of these topics
is found in Walter James Miller’s foreword to the Signet Classics edition of Frankenstein,
“The Future of Frankenstein.” Ask students to read Miller’s essay and take Cornell Notes by
drawing an inverted capital “T” on a piece of paper. On the left side of the vertical line they
will label Miller’s main ideas. On the right side, they will record supporting details. At the
bottom of each page, under the horizontal line, students will synthesize their notes into a one
or two sentence summary. Students should be sure to include the following topics:
1. The male pursuance of goals against all odds
2. The role of women as passive and dependent on men
3. The usurpation of female reproductive power by science
4. John Locke’s “tabula rasa,” or “blank slate” theory of individual character
5. Rousseau’s philosophy that society is responsible for the development of individual
character
As a formative assessment, student summaries can be posted on the wall or shared via
document camera.
EDUCATIONAL THEORIES OF LOCKE AND ROUSSEAU: TARGET NOTES
In writing Frankenstein, Mary Shelley drew on the philosophies of John Locke and JeanJacques Rousseau. Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) argued that a
child is a “blank slate” that is formed only through experience. Rousseau’s’ Emile, or On
Education (1762) promotes the idea that a child’s upbringing is responsible for his
education. Provide articles on each of these philosophies, such as the online encyclopedia
links below. Use one article as a class model for determining and summarizing main ideas
with “target notes.” Afterwards, students can complete individual target notes on the
other article. Target notes are a graphic-organizer alternative to traditional outlining.
Students draw a bull’s eye target on a piece of paper. In the center circle, they label their
topic, such as “Locke’s theory.” Depending on the number of subtopics identified from
the article, students draw vertical lines through the outer rings of the target, creating
separate spaces for sub-topic notes. When note-taking is complete, students write a one
or two sentence summary synthesizing the main ideas they derived from the article.
Target notes are an opportunity to teach two skills: the previewing of text features to
determine main and supporting ideas, and the summarizing of notes to comprehend
significance, or “the big idea.”
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/185833/Emile-or-On-Education
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/179408/education/47573/
Education-during-the-Enlightenment
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE: ACCESSIBLE TEXT
Assigning students a short, interesting, and easier modern text prior to beginning a more
challenging classic novel is an excellent method for generating student interest, making
connections, and building prior knowledge. One connection between the popular Harry
Potter series and Frankenstein is the legend of the “Philosopher’s Stone,” or its
Americanized version, the “Sorcerer’s Stone.” Ask students to read chapter 13 from Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (J.K. Rowling, 1998) that examines the history of the
“Philosopher’s Stone.” Afterwards, ask students to journal on the following:
1. What is the appeal of the Philosopher’s Stone? What is the danger?
2. Why might the magician who has held the stone all these years wish to surrender it now?
THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF SCIENCE: MULTI MEDIA PRESENTATION
Eighteenth and nineteenth century Europe was fascinated with scientific exploration and
experimentation. Using Inspiration! or another multi-media program, ask students to
research and produce a 1-3 minute audio-story or podcast introducing the class to one of
the following late 18th/early 19th century topics:
1. Galvanism (Luigi Galvani’s work with electric currents to stimulate muscle movement)
2. Body Snatching (theft of bodies from graves for the purpose of sale to doctors and
scientists)
3. Vivisections (dissecting living animals for the purpose of scientific study)
4. Polar Expeditions
Students need only a microphone and audio-editing software program like Audacity,
which can be downloaded for free. Students create an MP3 file with their information
and include transitional commentary. Next, students upload the podcast to a free site
such as iTunes, or ask the local webmaster to post it to the school website. Classmates,
parents, and other community members can listen to the recordings online or download
them to their ipods.
FEMINIST IDEALS: TALKING POINTS
In 1792, Mary Shelley’s mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, published the first great feminist
treatise, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. The text provides an excellent picture of
the patriarchal society into which Frankenstein’s author was born, detailing the lack of
rights, property, and respect afforded females in the late 18th century. Divide the class
into small groups. Assign each group one chapter of the text to read and summarize into
bulleted “talking points.” Discuss clues for identifying main ideas, such as repetition,
restatement, and transitional language. After reading and summarizing, students split up
into new groups composed of one representative from each chapter assigned. Each
student shares talking points while the other group members listen and jot down notes
on the main ideas in the chapter.
EXPLORING THE FRANKENSTEIN LEGEND: WEBQUESTS
Assign partner groups a topic from the following list, and ask them to explore the Internet
for information to be compiled into a short media presentation, complete with clip art if
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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possible. Students share findings with the class while other groups take notes on each
presentation. The objective is two-fold: whet students’ appetites for uncovering the novel’s
legendary and timeless intrigue, and provide practice in research, writing, and speaking.
For all WebQuests, decide whether to direct students’ research by providing web sites,
which saves time, or to allow students freedom to locate their own web sites. A
combination of teacher and student identified sites is also appropriate. In any case, a
reminder of source validity and appropriateness is always a good idea. Library media
specialists are often willing to assist in this endeavor.
1. Explore the Frankenstein legend through art: find at least three paintings/drawings
that depict Frankenstein. Arrange them in chronological order and give some
background on the artists.
Sample Internet sites on the Frankenstein tradition in art:
http://web.org.uk/picasso/frankenstein.jpg
http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425954728/425200182/ron-english-lazarusrising-frankenstein.html
2. Explore the Frankenstein legend through literature: the story of Dr. Frankenstein
has been referenced countless times, and by writers other than Mary Shelley. Find at
least three poems/short stories/novels/essays that include references to Frankenstein.
Arrange them in chronological order and give some background on the writers.
Sample Internet sites on the Frankenstein tradition in literature:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2078/is_4_43/ai_64975487/
http://www.amazon.com/Prodigal-Dean-Koontzs-Frankenstein-Book/
dp/0553587889/
http://www.radiodramarevival.com/episode-39-frankensteins-monster-wakes/
http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Cultural-Susan-Tyler-Hitchcock/
dp/0393061442/
http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Makes-Sandwich-Adam-Rex/
dp/0152057668/
3. Explore the Frankenstein legend through music: find at least three musical allusions
to the Frankenstein story. Arrange them in chronological order and give some
background information on the composers.
Sample Internet sites on the Frankenstein tradition in music:
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=394
http://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/frankenstein_the_musical_soundtrack/
http://www.lyricstime.com/rocky-horror-picture-show-over-at-thefrankenstein-place-lyrics.html
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
EXPLORING THE LIFE OF THE NOVELIST
Students can create their own Internet biography on Mary Shelley, such as the ones
below. After researching Shelley’s life, groups can write commentary and post links on the
class webpage or moodle.
Sample Internet sites on Mary Shelley:
http://www.rc.umd.edu/reference/chronologies/mschronology/mws.html
http://www.litgothic.com/Authors/mshelley.html
http://shelley.classicauthors.net/
EXPLORING SETTING: TRAVEL WRITING
Assign partners a mountain, lake, city, or other setting from Frankenstein, and have them
take the role of travel agent. Students can research and respond to one of the following
topics by writing a digital or hard-copy travel brochure.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The North Pole
Mont Blanc
The Alps
Geneva
The Orkney Isles
II. BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLDEGE THROUGH EXPLORATION OF GENRE
TENETS OF ROMANTICISM
Select a work of art from the Romantic era, such as Caspar David Friedrich’s 1818
painting Wanderer above the Sea of Fog. After showing it to the class on a document
camera or LCD projector, ask students to complete the following response:
1. Draw a quick thumbnail sketch of the painting.
2. Write a brief description of the painting. What is the most dominant image? What
is on the periphery? Include discussion of color, medium, and style.
3. Write a brief analysis of the painting based on your description above. Why does the
painter choose to make certain images dominant and others marginal? Does the
painting evoke a certain mood or theme? How? Why? How might the title of the
painting affect the analysis?
After students are finished with individual responses, invite them to discuss their
thoughts in partner groups or as a class. Explain that the mood and themes evoked by
the painting are the same elements they will be seeing in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and
other works from the Romantic Era. Record these on the board. Lists should include
characterization of nature as a healing force, use of the supernatural, emphasis on human
individuality, belief in innate goodness, and the advocacy of free thought. (Characteristics
not obvious in the painting may be added by the teacher).
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GOTHIC COMPARISONS
Popular in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Gothic novels are
characterized by the use of intense emotion, the characterization of nature as a powerful
and destructive force, the use of weather and atmosphere to depict mood, and the
evocation of terror and horror. The survival of the gothic tradition can be seen in modern
movie monsters such as Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Kruger and Silence of the Lambs’s
Hannibal Lecter. To initiate a discussion of Gothicism, play a video recording of Michael
Jackson’s hit, Thriller, which can be found on multiple websites, including YouTube.com
Discuss with students:
1. What is it in human nature that attracts us to gothic tales?
2. Can you think of any previously read titles that are gothic in nature? (Students
might recall an Edgar Allan Poe tale such as The Cask of Amontillado).
Ask students to compare/contrast Romanticism and Gothicism. Frankenstein blends
elements of both genres. Answers might take the form of a double-bubble or Venn-diagram.
FRAME STORY
Using the popular novel The Princess Bride (William Goldman, 1998) as an example,
demonstrate visually the structure of literary frame stories. On a document camera,
whiteboard, or overhead, draw a large picture frame. On the outer frame, write “grandfather
visits grandson,” and on the inner surface, write, “Princess Bride story.” Show the clip from
The Princess Bride where the grandfather visits his sick grandson and offers to read a story.
A discussion of the scene is an excellent introduction to the frame story device.
Discuss with students:
1. Why did the novelist choose to utilize the frame story device?
2. What methods does the screenwriter use to transition between the frame and the story?
3. Can you provide another example of a frame story, either in literature or film?
(Students might recall Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales).
Answers can take the form of journal entries or partner chats prior to discussing with the class.
The Princess Bride [videorecording]. Act III Communications [Buttercup Films Ltd., The
Princess Bride Ltd.] ; Screenplay by William Goldman; produced by Andrew Scheinman
and Rob Reiner; Directed by Rob Reiner. Originally produced as a motion picture in 1987.
TREASURE HUNT
One way to arouse students’ interest in studying any novel is to have them bring or draw
objects which are connected to the setting, characters, or theme of the story. You can
provide students with a list if you want to do this activity before they read the book, or
they can brainstorm a list after they read specific chapters or as a post-reading activity.
Students can gather or create a range of objects, from easy to difficult, to bring to class
to organize displays. Here are a few suggestions for a class reading Frankenstein:
1. SETTING: a map of Europe, an ice cube, a raincoat, an audio soundtrack of
howling wind and human screams.
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
2. CHARACTERS: a Frankenstein mask, a Barbie doll, a lab coat, a chemistry beaker.
3. THEME: objects which symbolize science, obsession, patriarchy, Gothicism, and
nature (prior to the scavenger hunt allow students to brainstorm ideas of objects
which suggest these abstract qualities).
III. BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE IN LANGUAGE
VOCABULARY CONCEPT MAPS
The language of Romantic novels can prove daunting to students. One method of providing
background knowledge and promoting connections is to select Romantic-era vocabulary
from the beginning of the novel that is critical to reader comprehension. Distribute a list of
Frankenstein vocabulary words, complete with definitions. Then ask students to form
partners or groups and create concept maps that illustrate their understanding of the
assigned terms. Maps may include the definition, an illustration, examples, characteristics,
etc. Groups may work on every word or only one, and can share their work by posting maps
on the wall. Other students may walk from map to map and add observations and
suggestions with post-it notes. Vocabulary might include sledge, natural philosophy, elixir,
chimera, chamois, predilection, anatomise, tertiary, alchemist, and charnel-house.
PROBABLE PASSAGES
To encourage student predictions, generate a list of ten to fifteen words related to
Frankenstein. Ask students to write a “probable passage” paragraph that predicts the
content of the novel by using all the words from the list. After the book is read, students
can return to the passage and make corrections to their summaries. Possible words might
include: Alps, Antarctic, ship, laboratory, ice, university, monster, thunder, cottage, locket,
wedding, murder, dogs, and Scotland.
DIRECTED READING ACTIVITY: INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS
A directed reading activity using interactive notebooks introduces students to Romantic
language by focusing attention on a manageable excerpt and by delving into its diction,
syntax, and tone. Have students read the novel’s first chapter, on the background of the
Frankenstein family. Direct them to mark the text as they read: draw a star next to words,
sentences, or paragraphs they admire and a question mark beside text they find confusing
or questionable. Ask students what they questioned and why. Re-read these words or
excerpts aloud. Allow classmates to address each other’s questions. Before adding teacher
input, ask students for the lines they marked with stars. Re-read these aloud. Ask students
what they admired about these excerpts. In this way, the teacher allows students to make
meaning of the text on their own and with the help of peers rather than immediately
relying on teacher input. Focusing on reader interest and questions also provides an
illustration of how style affects comprehension.
To further this activity, ask an open-ended question that encourages readers of all levels
to participate by writing an answer in their interactive notebooks. Students can share
what they have written and respond to each other’s observations. The quietest students
can at least read their answers aloud, thus participating in class discussion.
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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The teacher’s role during this activity is to encourage students to cite the text. While there are
no wrong answers to an open-ended question, ask students, “what part of the passage led you
to believe . . .” Possible open-ended questions from the first chapter of Frankenstein include:
1. Why does Shelley have Victor characterize his parents with “a deep consciousness of
what they owed towards the being to which they had given life?”
2. Why does Shelley call Victor’s mother “the guardian angel to the afflicted?”
3. Why does the author end the chapter with, “since till death she was to be mine only?”
4. How might you characterize Shelley’s syntax? Give an example from chapter one.
IV. BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH INITIAL EXPLORATION OF THEMES
THE LIMITS OF SCIENCE
1. Contemporary science is ripe with parallels to Victor Frankenstein’s controversial
experiment. In order to bridge this Romantic novel with today’s young readers,
invite students to investigate one of the following modern studies and present their
findings to the class.
1. Human Genome Project: an international effort to decode genetic information
in human DNA
2. Visible Human Project: study of an actual human cadaver sliced into razor thin
sections for the purpose of scientific study
3. Dolly the Sheep: the world’s first successful living clone
2. Show students the two political cartoons on genetic engineering referenced below.
One shows President Obama blowing the dust off a science book the day after
releasing the moratorium on embryonic stem cell research. The second illustrates a
couple “making a baby” by mixing chemicals in a test tube. For each cartoon, ask
students to answer the following questions independently before sharing with a
partner and the class.
1. What is the dominant image in the cartoon? Why?
2. What is significant about the secondary images and text in the cartoon?
3. What is the cartoonist’s point of view about his subject matter?
4. What is your opinion about the subject matter introduced by the cartoon?
5. After considering both cartoons and your opinion, write a thesis statement that
supports, opposes, or argues a point about genetic engineering.
http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=30882
http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/store/add.php?iid=4841
3. In Frankenstein, originally subtitled The Modern Prometheus, Mary Shelley’s
characters directly or indirectly allude to several other classic and Romantic works.
Reading or discussing these works will provide students with critical background
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
knowledge prior to reading the novel. “Promethean Ambition” is the trait said to be
exemplified by both literary and real characters who strive beyond their mortal
limitations, often to dangerous or tragic ends.
Read the Greek myth of Prometheus, the Titan who angers Zeus by introducing fire
to mortals and is punished eternally by having his liver eaten away by a great eagle.
He suffers the same agony every day until he is freed by Heracles. Then discuss the
following questions with students, asking them to keep these ideas in mind and to
look for connections as they read the novel:
1. What knowledge was forbidden to man by Zeus? Why?
2. What might have motivated Prometheus to defy Zeus?
3. What was Prometheus’s punishment? What does it symbolize?
One version of the myth of Prometheus is available at the following web site: http://
web.archive.org/web/20071018065319/www.geocities.com/Athens/6969/myth.htm
THE DOUBLE-SELF
1. Doppelgangers
The literary tradition of dark doubles or shadow-selves spans the ages, including
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, and Prometheus Unbound,
by Percy Shelley, husband to Frankenstein author Mary Shelley. Perhaps the most
recognizable to students is the example of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde. (Students might be interested to know that in May 2009, Universal Studios
announced a new Jekyll and Hyde movie named Jekyll, starring Keanu Reeves). Play
a recording of Obsession, from the Broadway musical Jekyll and Hyde. An excerpt of
the lyrics appears below.
JEKYLL:
What streak of madness lies inside me?
What is the truth my fears conceal?
What evil force makes Edward Hyde of me?
What darker side of me does he reveal?
What is this strange obsession
That’s tearing me apart?
Some strange, deranged expression
Of what’s in my heart?
Am I the man that I appear to be?
Or am I someone I don’t know?
Is there some monster drawing near me to me?
Becoming clear to see?
Will what I fear to be
Be so?
Ask students to create a double-columned note-taking organizer, with significant
lyrics on one side, and the doppelganger’s characterization as revealed by the lyrics
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
15
on the other side. Because critics of Frankenstein often characterize the creature as
Victor Frankenstein’s dark double, or “shadow-self,” this activity will help students
think about this theme.
2. Archetypes
Introduce or review with students the different types of Jungian or literary
archetypes with emphasis on the self and the shadow which they will encounter as
they read the novel. Students might review several web sites to get an overview of
Jungian psychology and archetypes. One such site is http://www.csulb.edu/~csnider/
jungian.outline.html
Other literary archetypes that apply to Frankenstein might include the hero, the
wanderer, the orphan, the mad scientist, and the monster. Discuss with students:
1. What characteristics define this archetype?
2. What are his goals?
3. What are his fears?
4. What are his nemeses?
5. Name examples of this archetype in literature, film, and society.
6. Has society’s attitude towards this archetype changed over time? If so, how and why?
ROLE OF PARENTS
1. Anticipation Guide
Anticipation Guides provide personal connection and promote student thinking
about significant themes they will encounter in the reading. As a literacy tool, they
encourage students to engage while reading and focus on the issues they introduce.
Before reading Frankenstein, ask students to answer the following questions. They
can respond with “true” or “false,” or they can answer on a continuum, such as
“highly agree” or “agree somewhat.” Then the class can engage in a discussion of
individual responses, identifying areas of controversy.
1. It is a parent’s job, more than society’s, to nurture his/her child.
2. With the advent of genetic engineering and “designer” babies, parents now have
less important roles in the birth process.
3. All children are innately good.
4. Every child needs “mothering” in order to become “human.”
5. All parents love their children unconditionally, no matter how they look or act.
6. Children who are “deformed” physically or mentally should be isolated from society.
After reading, students can return to the anticipation guides and note how their
thinking has changed or been impacted by the text.
2. Paradise Lost
In John Milton’s Paradise Lost, Lucifer is expelled from Heaven and Adam from
Eden when they challenge their creator. Read the excerpts from Book I involving
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Adam’s creation and Lucifer’s expulsion, and ask students to consider the following
questions:
1. What is the relationship between God and Adam? Between God and Lucifer?
2. How and why does this relationship change?
3. What does Milton suggest about the duty of a parent/creator to his creation in
these excerpts?
Encourage students to keep these ideas in mind when they read Frankenstein, by listing
ideas on class room charts or having students note their ideas in their reading journals.
THE ROMANTIC’S VIEW OF NATURE
1. Healing Power of Nature: “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is another Romantic tale
of man’s struggle to understand the relationship between nature and man. As a class,
read Coleridge’s poem and ask students to consider the following questions and to
keep these ideas in mind when they read Frankenstein.
1. What is the symbolism of the ice? of the “albatross?”
2. Why does the mariner slay the albatross and what happens as a result?
3. What is the role of the crew in the story?
4. What “saves” the mariner? How does he react to the natural world?
5. Why must the mariner tell his story?
2. Sublime in Nature: “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey”
Like Frankenstein, William Wordsworth’s “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern
Abbey” examines man’s relationship to Nature. Ask students to read Wordsworth’s poem
and to discuss the following questions about the impact of nature on the poet. Jot down
these ideas on a class chart so students can make connections as they read the novel.
1. How does the poet feel when he revisits the banks of the Wye?
2. What gifts does he receive from Nature?
3. What does the poet mean by the use of the word sublime?
4. How does Nature serve the poet?
DURING READING ACTIVITIES
These activities encourage students to utilize research-based comprehension strategies
such as predicting, connecting, summarizing, and determining main ideas while reading
Frankenstein. Whether the novel is read aloud in class or silently at home, teachers can
choose appropriate assignments from the ideas below.
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I. ANALYZING THROUGH GROUP RESPONSE
CLASS BLOG
Students can use their post-it note questions, connections, and inferences as the basis for
an online blog. Using an online teaching assistant such as Blackboard or Moodle, or using
your teacher website, create a discussion board for student responses outside of class. Post
two or three open-ended questions designed to elicit a broad range of answers with the
capacity for complex and controversial responses. Give students a deadline to respond,
and ask them to discuss not only the initial topic, but their classmates’ responses as well.
Some teachers consider blogs an extension of traditional class discussions, and therefore
expect the use of academic language. Discuss in class your expectations concerning
academic versus “texting” type language.
ELECTRONIC CHAT ROOM
The difference in blogs and online chats is that blogs are composed over a period of days,
whereas chats occur in “real time,” while the teacher is present and monitoring. In a
computer lab or lap-top classroom, students read and respond to each other’s posts in
silence. Due to this real-time atmosphere, many teachers allow “IM” or “texting” type
language for online chats.
For both blogs and chats, the use of alias screen names encourages traditionally reticent
students to respond without fear of appearing foolish or hurting classmates’ feelings.
Because online postings allow multiple responses simultaneously, questions that normally
receive five or six verbal responses in the classroom elicit hundreds of responses online.
The teacher’s job is to insure posts are on-task, appropriate, and analytical. Assessments
can be completed later when the teacher pulls up the discussion as a whole. You may wish
to extend the blog or chat discussion in class.
Sample blog or chat prompts for Frankenstein include:
1. Who is the biggest victim in chapters 1-8? Victor? William? Justine? The creature?
(You may choose another character). Explain your choice.
2. What connections are you making to other literature we have read in class? To the
contemporary world? To your own experience? Explain how these connections
inform your reading of the novel.
3. Why is Frankenstein’s creature never given a name?
FOLDABLE DIALECTIC JOURNALS
Using one piece of notebook or typing paper (or two facing pieces from a sewn
composition book), model for students how to fold paper into four columns. Label the
columns in the following order from left to right.
1.
2.
3.
4.
“From the Text”
“From Me”
“From my Classmate”
“My New Thinking”
During an in-class reading of the novel, students record in the first column any significant
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words, phrases, or sentences from the selection. Excerpts may be chosen because they
align with a theme or style discussed in class or because they promote student questions,
connections, or inferences. In the second column, students record their questions or
explain their thinking. In the third column, classmates exchange journals and respond to
or extend on each other’s thoughts. Afterwards, students reflect on classmate input and
record their new thinking.
CRIMINAL PROFILING
Students will be familiar with “Criminal Minds,” the highly popular TV series that
follows the adventures of an FBI profiling team from the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit
(BAU) from Quantico, Virginia. Unlike other crime shows, which focus on the crime,
“Criminal Minds” focuses on the criminal.
Ask students to take on the role of a FBI profiler and analyze Frankenstein’s creature
based on the crimes he has committed thus far in the novel. Profiles may include answers
to the following questions.
1. What does this character look like? How does he/she carry himself? How does he/
she dress?
2. How does this character speak? Does he/she have any identifiable speech patterns?
3. Where was this character born? How was he/she raised?
4. Describe the time period in which this character lives. How do the times affect this
character’s thinking and actions?
5. What is this character’s main motivation? Why?
6. Describe any redeeming qualities this character may have.
7. Analyze the character’s personality flaws. From what do they stem? How do they
affect the choices he/she makes?
8. Choose an object this character holds or would hold dear. Explain the connection.
9. Does this character have any secrets? If so, explain.
10. Who would be this character’s contemporary counterpart? Explain your choice.
To extend the assignment, students might compare the profile of the creature to a notorious
criminal mind such as Jack the Ripper, John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, or Son of Sam.
CRIME-SCENE DIAGRAMS
Another activity that will appeal to students is the crime scene diagram. In order to
review the novel’s complex plot as well as to connect to visual learners, assign students the
task of creating a diagram, either by hand or on the computer, of any of Frankenstein’s
murder scenes. Diagrams should make clear the who, what, and where of the crime,
including “X marks the spot.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discussion questions encourage students to deepen their individual analysis of the novel
by sharing their reactions with classmates. Students generally feel more comfortable
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sharing their ideas with a small group of peers first. When group discussions are
complete, student spokespersons can discuss their findings with the class as a whole.
Discussion questions on Frankenstein ask students to analyze the author’s purpose, themes,
social commentary, and literary techniques. Below are some thought-provoking questions
based on the text.
Letters
1. Is Walton a reliable narrator? Why or why not?
2. Is Walton’s goal to “confer on all mankind . . . a passage near the pole” noble or
overly ambitious?
3. How does Robert’s desire for a friend affect his relationship with Dr. Frankenstein?
How might this relationship affect the reader’s trust in Walton as a reliable narrator?
Chapters 1-2
1. How does Victor’s statement that “the world was to me a secret which I desired to
divine” serve as characterization?
2. How do Henry and Victor differ? Why might Shelley be setting them up as
character foils?
3. What is Shelley’s intent when she has Victor characterize Elizabeth as “the saintly
soul (who) shone like a shrine-dedicated lamp in our peaceful home?” What role
does this characterization set for Elizabeth?
4. Is Victor’s fascination with the Philosopher’s Stone an admirable one?
Chapters 3-5
1. Victor’s obsession with natural science results in two years passing with no visits
home. How would you evaluate his character at this point?
2. Describe the shift in tone when Victor says, “Learn from me, if not by my precepts,
at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how
much happier the man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who
aspires to become greater than his nature will allow.”
3. During his summer experiment, Victor admits “his eyes were insensible to the
charms of nature.” What role might nature (or the lack of it) play for Victor?
4. What message might Victor be missing when he dreams that his kiss turns Elizabeth
into a corpse?
Chapters 6-10
1. Who is at fault for William’s death? Is anyone other than the murderer responsible
for what happened?
2. How might Justine’s trial have differed in today’s court system?
3. How does Victor’s guilt affect his health? What is Shelley’s purpose in this recurring
plot device?
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
4. How is Victor’s reaction toward the Valley of Chamounix a departure from his
previous views of nature?
Chapters 11-16
1. What imagery does Shelley employ when the character describes his “awakening?”
What does his reaction remind you of?
2. How does the change in narration to the creature’s point of view affect the reading
of the novel? Do you feel sympathy for the creature when he is rejected by humanity?
3. What crucial role in the creature’s development is played by the DeLacey family?
4. What is the motivation behind the creature’s vow of “eternal hatred and vengeance
to all mankind?”
Chapters 17-24
1. Is the creature’s demand for a female companion a valid request? Examine the pros and
cons of Victor’s compliance. Consider evidence provided by both Victor and the creature.
2. To what famous Romantic symbol is Shelley alluding when she has Victor think,
“Could I enter into a festival with this deadly weight yet hanging round my neck
and bowing me to the ground?”
3. What is Victor’s greatest fear as he leaves for England? Describe the irony in his
decision to continue.
4. What evidence suggests Victor feels responsibility for the murders? What evidence
illustrates that he still blames the creature?
5. How is Victor’s view of the Scottish Orkneys a reflection of his emotional state?
6. After watching his female companion torn to bits, the creature makes an eloquent
defense and vows Victor will “repent of the injuries (he) inflicts.” Is the creature
justified in his feelings? Why or why not? What is Shelley’s purpose in his defense?
7. After hearing of Clerval’s murder, Victor falls ill once again. In agony, he wonders, “Why
did I not die?” What would your answer be? Is there a reason for his continued anguish?
8. For Victor and his father, what purpose would a quick marriage to Elizabeth serve?
Discuss the impact on Elizabeth. What role does she continue to play? Does her
death alter or perpetuate that role?
9. Discuss the irony in Victor’s statement to the magistrate: “Man, how ignorant art
thou in thy pride of wisdom!”
10. What is the motivation behind Victor’s vow to find and destroy his creature? Has he
learned any lessons?
Letters
1. What is the purpose of Shelley’s irony when Walton recognizes he has found the
friend he is looking for only to watch him die?
2. When Walton listens to his men and turns his ship homeward rather than risk their
lives, is he accurate in his statement that he has “lost (his) hopes for glory?” Explain.
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
21
3. Why does the creature choose to die at the end of the novel? What does his choice
suggest about his connection to Frankenstein?
II. ANALYZING THROUGH INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE
POST-IT NOTE QUESTIONS
Student-created questions that lead to interpretation and analysis are much more effective
comprehension tools than the traditional end of chapter questions provided by teachers
or textbooks. Discuss with the class the different levels of questions and how broader
questions lead to interpretation and analysis. Ask students to pose one or two questions
per chapter and to jot questions down on post-it notes, one per note. Post-its are affixed
to the page of text they reference. In class, students can categorize these questions on the
board or on a concept chart, and discuss possible answers with their peers.
To help students make personal, literary, and cultural connections to Shelley’s novel, ask
them to record on post-it notes any connections they see as they read Frankenstein. To
emphasize the idea that connections should “count,” remind students to think about how
these observations help them better understand the text, and to discard the post-its that
do not aid in comprehension. At the end of an assigned section, students can collaborate
and categorize their connections, and stick their post-its on labeled posters throughout
the room, allowing the class to view each other’s ideas.
CHARACTER-FOIL DOUBLE-BUBBLE MAPS
Robert Marzano’s first essential teaching strategy is the study of similarities and
differences. In Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein serves as a foil to almost every other
character in the novel. To help students compare and contrast Victor with the creature or
with any of the novel’s secondary characters, ask students to label one bubble “Victor,”
and the other with another character. In the bubbles shared by the foils, students record
similarities, such as “obsessive desire towards goal.” In the bubbles specific to each of the
characters, students record parallel differences, such as “has nothing to lose” and “will lose
friends and family.” After students fill in their double-bubble maps, they might turn and
share with a classmate or the class, adding to their maps as the discussion ensues. Possible
character foils include the following.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Victor Frankenstein and Robert Walton
Frankenstein and the Creature
Victor and Elizabeth Lavenza
Victor and Henry Clerval
Double-Bubble Maps are also effective for comparing Frankenstein to another print or
non-print text. Other possible maps include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Creature and Adam from Genesis
The Creature and Satan from Paradise Lost
Robert Walton and “The Ancient Mariner”
The Creature and Shrek
The Creature and Beast (from Beauty and the Beast)
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
MULTI-FLOW MAP
The act of creating his monster causes a myriad of effects for Victor Frankenstein as well
as the other characters in the novel. Ask students to choose a character such as the
creature, Justine, Elizabeth, Henry, or even Victor himself, and “map” the effects of
Victor’s action. In the middle box of the multi-flow, ask students to write the event,
“Victor creates the monster.” In boxes to the left, students identify the causes of this act
and connect to the middle box with arrows. In the boxes to the right, students identify
the effects of the act and connect them to the middle box with arrows. The multi-flow
map activity is a study in character motivation. Students might write the following in
their boxes.
Action
•
Victor Creates the Monster.
Causes
•
•
•
Victor isolates himself in his studies.
Victor is obsessed with the Philosopher’s Stone.
Victor’s ambition overrules his sense of ethics.
Effects (on Victor)
•
•
•
Victor’s isolation increases as he pursues the creature.
Victor loses his brother, wife, and best friend.
Victor loses his life.
EPISTOLARY WRITING
Because Frankenstein is an epistolary novel, give students practice in letter writing for the
purpose of delineating character. Students can choose a character in the novel and explain
his/her motivation, actions, or feelings to a specific audience. For instance, the creature
can write a letter to Victor Frankenstein, explaining how his upbringing (or lack of it)
has defined his character. Or Justine can write a letter to the jury, explaining her
innocence. The class can combine these letters to create their own epistolary novel, either
on the class website or in hard-copy.
JOURNAL WRITE: ROMANTICISM VERSES GOTHICISM
Assign two sections of text from Frankenstein, such as Henry’s awestruck reaction to the
Alps in chapter 18 and Victor’s disgust at the Scottish Orkneys in chapter 19. Another
pairing is the lightning storm in chapter 7 and the Arveiron Valley description in chapter
10. Ask students to respond in their journals: Which selection demonstrates the ideals of
Romanticism? Which is more Gothic in nature? Is there any overlap? Explain your answer.
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
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AFTER READING ACTIVITIES
These activities encourage students to deepen their interpretation of Frankenstein by
helping them make connections between themes and issues in the novel, in other works,
and in the outside world.
I. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND ESSAYS
Now that students have read the entire novel, they can return to the text for a deeper
understanding of its significant themes. The following topics and questions can be used
for whole class and small group discussion or as essay topics.
1. The horror story is just as popular today as it was in Shelley’s early nineteenth
century England. What is the appeal of this genre? Discuss elements from
Frankenstein that parallel characteristics of modern horror tales such as Stephen
King’s, or contemporary films such as Nightmare on Elm Street. What are the effects
of these elements on the audience, and how might that explain our fascination?
2. Dr. Frankenstein finds himself unable to “mother” the being he creates. Why does
Shelley characterize Victor in this way? What does this choice say about the role of
women during Shelley’s era? Discuss the significance of parent-child relationships
and birth references throughout the novel.
3. Dreams and nightmares play a recurrent role throughout Shelley’s novel. Trace the
use of dreams throughout the book, with emphasis on how they relate to changes in
Victor’s character.
4. Why are there so many references to sickness and fever in Frankenstein? Trace these
references throughout the novel. What broader theme might Shelley be expressing?
5. Re-visit some of your pre-reading activities, such as the journal entry on the
“Philosopher’s Stone” and the anticipation guide on parenting. Now that you have
completed Frankenstein, have your views changed? Why or why not?
6. Ice is a prevalent image and an integral plot device in Shelley’s Frankenstein. How is
it appropriate that the novel ends in ice? What is the symbolism of ice for the
characters and the story?
7. In his afterword in the Signet Classics edition of Frankenstein, Harold Bloom asserts
that “all Romantic horrors are diseases of excessive consciousness, of the self unable
to bear the self.” Does this Romantic characteristic apply to Victor and his treatment
of the creature? Explain. Consider the fact that Victor never gives the creature a name.
8. Place Frankenstein’s creature in modern times. Suppose he had a family that raises
him, includes him, and even enrolls him in school. How might today’s society treat
Victor’s creature differently? How would it mimic the time period of the novel?
9. Consider the character of Justine Moritz. While her story only takes two chapters of
Shelley’s novel, her role as a secondary character is significant. What is Shelley’s
purpose in telling Justine’s story? What truths about her time is Shelley revealing?
10. The patriarchal society of Frankenstein is one in which men pursue their goals
against hopeless odds. In light of this work ethic, is Robert Walton a failure when
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
he turns his ship around at the end of the novel? How would Victor Frankenstein
answer this question? What would Mary Shelley say? What do you think?
II. GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS
DIGITAL BOOK REVIEW
Students are accustomed to reading movie, television, and book reviews online and in
print publications. For a current and relevant connection, find a review of a new television
show or movie. Print publications such as Entertainment Weekly or online sites such as
http://www.pluggedinonline.com/tv/ will be helpful sources. Ask students to take the role
of critic and review Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Topics might include plot, characterization,
style, and significance. Students should support all input with quotations and references
from the text. In this way, critiques are based on valid examination of the novel, not
merely personal preference. This assignment provides practice writing to specific
audiences and for specific purposes. In this case, students act as critics writing to potential
readers of Frankenstein. Writers can share their critiques with the rest of the class or school
community via podcast, including a sample reading from the text. Instructions on
creating podcasts can be found in the pre-reading section of this guide.
ANIMOTO
Students can create a multi-media presentation using the newly popular Animoto.com.
The program is a quick, user-friendly website where students choose music and images
from the Internet to illustrate their comprehension of character or theme. The result is a
digital story told by music, art, and minimal text, such as quotations from the novel.
After teacher-led discussion about how music and visuals can portray certain tones or
themes, students simply choose the pieces, and Animoto puts them together in a
professional-looking presentation. Students can post the presentations on the class
website, where the clips can be viewed either collectively or at home. To extend the
assignment, students can critique each other’s work. Sample presentations and registration
instructions can be found at the following website: http://animoto.com/
WORD-CLOUDS
Using words from the text, from their own brainstorming, or a combination of both,
students can create digital “word-clouds” that emphasize characterization and theme
through language, font, color, and size. Students choose which words should receive
greater emphasis and which colors and font demonstrate personality, tone, and theme.
For instance, a word-cloud on Elizabeth Lavenza might be in blue and silver, with text
support such as “a pretty present,” “celestial,” “heaven-sent,” and “mine until death” in
larger font. Student-chosen words might include “subservient,” “victim,” and “passive.”
Using “wordle.net,” students indicate their preferences and Wordle does the rest. The
colorful charts can be printed off and serve as concept maps on the classroom walls. Or,
students can post them on the class website or directly on Wordle for the purposes of
discussion and critique. The Wordle website address appears below.
http://www.wordle.net/
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MUSICAL MEMOIR
Ask students to choose a character from Frankenstein, either a major one like Victor or
the Creature, or a minor character such as Elizabeth, Henry, or Justine. Next, students
should research and select songs with titles and lyrics that reflect this character’s inner and
outer conflicts, motivations, and actions. The goal is to create a character “memoir,”
which can take the form of a CD insert, a digital photo story, or an essay. Memoirs should
include titles, lyrics, and explanations that justify the choice of selections and connect
them to the Frankenstein character. It will be useful to discuss with students how memoirs
differ from autobiographies in that the recollections of the character may be altered by
emotion and experience. The result is a study in Mary Shelley’s characterization.
GALLERY WALK
In this cooperative learning activity, divide students into groups of four or five. Assign
each group one of the major themes that have been addressed throughout the reading of
Frankenstein, such as science verses humanity, ambition, birth and parenting, and the role
of women. In front of large sheets of paper posted around the room, groups meet at their
base poster, which is the paper pre-labeled with the name of a theme. Students brainstorm
and write down all textual evidence and commentary they can think of to support the
role of their theme in the play. When the teacher says, “continue your walk,” students
move to the next base and read what the previous groups have written before adding their
own commentary. The gallery walk continues until the groups have seen and contributed
to all posters and return to their original place.
BOOK JACKETS
In this activity, groups create and portray a living book cover for an illustrated edition of
the novel. In picking a quotation from the book and in portraying an illustration that
depicts the quotation’s meaning, students take on the role of the bookseller or publishing
house, who must decide how best to get across the point of the play to an audience who
has not yet read it. Ask groups to follow this process:
1. Pick one quotation from the novel that is particularly significant, one that seems to
speak to one of the author’s major themes or intents, one that would make good
sense on the cover of the novel.
2. Write out the quotation on a long, narrow piece of paper, in large enough print to
be seen from the back of the classroom.
3. Decide how to portray the quotation in a frozen tableau. Rather than presenting a
scene from the book, create a picture that illustrates the quotation. For instance, the
struggle between Victor’s role as a scientist and his duty to his family might be
portrayed as a tug of war. This activity requires you to illustrate comprehension and
synthesis by turning your understanding into performance art.
4. In front of the class, arrange yourselves into a frozen tableau, and either hold or post
your quotation so that it is part of the “book cover.” Hold the scene for thirty
seconds, so that the rest of the class can read and appreciate your “illustrated classic.”
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
CLOSING ARGUMENTS SPEECHES
In this activity, students take the role of attorneys presenting their “closing arguments” at
the end of a criminal trial. In this case either Victor Frankenstein or his creature is on trial.
The crime can be varied: playing God, blind ambition, desertion, cruelty, or murder. Ask
students to choose whether to defend or prosecute the character. To prepare their case,
they list all the possible arguments from both sides. For example, if they plan to defend
Victor Frankenstein, they list not only all the arguments they plan to use but also as many
arguments as they can think of that will be used by the prosecution. Then, they’ll list
possible responses to the opposition’s points. In this way, students not only consider both
points of view but also illustrate their skills in persuasive writing and speaking. Students
should be encouraged to use their own opinion but should also be required to cite the
novel whenever possible to encourage close reading. Prior to preparing their arguments,
students might watch a closing argument on video, such as the scene at the end of John
Grisham’s A Time to Kill. Such a model provides ideas for rhetorical strategies such as
repetition, storytelling, and gestures. Students present arguments orally to the class.
III. COMPARISONS AND CONNECTIONS
WEIGHTY DECISIONS
In 1917, Sir Ernest Shackleton, in a historic quest to cross the Antarctic continent at the
North Pole, found himself and his crew surrounded by ice for nine months. When it
became evident the ice would sink the ship and take the lives of his crew, Shackleton
made a series of decisions that saved every single man on board. His heroic actions
eventually led Sir Shackleton, after death, to become a 21st century icon in Leadership
Training. One of his decisions involved what to take from the sinking ship in order to
survive. Students can practice quick thinking and priority making by rating the
significance of the ship’s cargo. Questions to consider after the activity include:
1. What were the principles and guiding questions that drove your group’s decisions?
2. Which items were most difficult to agree on?
3. How did your group resolve any differences of opinion?
After the activity, students can review Shackleton’s actual choices and his justifications.
Additional questions include:
1. Compare Shackleton’s actions to Robert Walton’s at the end of Frankenstein. How
are these men “heroes?” How would the patriarchal society of Mary Shelley’s era
view them?
2. Shackleton’s ship was named Endurance. Discuss the significance of this term, for
Shackleton, for Robert Walton, and for Victor Frankenstein.
The activity and Shackleton’s choices are found on NOVA Online, linked below.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/pdf/2906_shacklet_01.pdf
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/activities/2906_shacklet.html
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
27
FILM FESTIVAL
Since the age of motion pictures began, the story of Frankenstein has fascinated movie
producers and audiences alike. The focus of the tale has altered dramatically, though,
from Shelley’s original work. In almost all movie remakes of the tale, emphasis has shifted
away from Victor’s inner turmoil and towards the creature’s violent crimes. The result, of
course, is pure fear of the creature, versus fear mixed with sympathy and even selfrecognition. In fact, the shift from creator to creation has been so successful that the
creature himself is often mistakenly called “Frankenstein.” After watching an excerpt or
the entirety of one or more of the following films based on Shelley’s work, students write
a film critique discussing one or more of the cinematic choices of plot, casting,
characterization, special effects, and theme development. If appropriate, critiques should
include comparative discussion on watching the film versus reading the novel and the
effectiveness of those differences. Ask students:
1. Shelley’s novel has been set in modern times on film. Describe the setting and plot
of this video production. Where and when does it take place? Do the setting and
plot seem authentic? Why or why not? What specific direction and production
choices add to the atmosphere? Discuss costuming and prop choices.
2. Discuss the use of special effects. Consider lighting, music, and sound. How do
these elements add to your understanding of the novel? What differences exist
between the film’s interpretation and your own while reading? Do these differences
add to or change your analysis of Shelley’s work? Explain.
3. Discuss the production’s casting. Do the actors provide effective portrayals of
Shelley’s characters? Why were these actors cast? Consider the time period in which
the film was produced.
4. What were the strengths of this film production? Use specific evidence from the
film. Were there any weaknesses? If so, discuss specific issues.
5. What elements, if any, have the film makers kept the same as in Shelley’s tale? Why
have they chosen these elements? Alternately, are there important elements of the
novel left out of the film? How might these changes affect the audience? Are
elements of humor included in the film? How does it affect the viewer?
6. What is your overall impression of this film? Would your impression be different
had you not read the novel first? Explain.
Frankenstein. Dir. James Whale. Universal Pictures: 1931.
Young Frankenstein. Dir. Mel Brooks. Gruskoff/Venture Films: 1974.
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Dir. Kenneth Branagh. American Zoetrope: 1994.
Frankenstein. Dir. Kevin Conner. Hallmark Entertainment: 2004.
THE NATURE OF HEROES
When Robert Walton describes Victor Frankenstein, he claims, “What a glorious creature
must he have been in the days of his prosperity, when he is thus noble and godlike in
ruin! He seems to feel his own worth and the greatness of his fall.” In doing so, Walton
depicts Frankenstein as a classic tragic hero. Ask students to read one short story or poem
(such as “Ulysses”), one play or novel (such as Dr. Faustus), and watch one film (such as
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
The Natural) that depicts the role of ambition in a hero’s demise or redemption. Students
can make a comparison chart depicting the similarities and differences between the main
character and Victor Frankenstein.
Students should also consider the following questions as they read/view:
1. What character traits, dramatic elements, or plot events depict the protagonist as
being ambitious?
2. Does this character illustrate a moral or social code of behavior? If so, describe it.
3. What is the character’s greatest desire?
4. What ultimate price is the protagonist willing to pay to reach his/her objective?
5. Detail the outcome of the protagonist’s struggle with ambition.
6. Does the protagonist regret his/her decision? How do you know?
7. Is the protagonist ultimately redeemed or condemned for his/her choices?
EXTENDED READING
The following titles focus on themes of ambition, scientific ethics, doppelgangers, gender
roles, and genre and are excellent for both independent reading or literature circles where
each group of students reads a different work on the same theme. Ask students for their
own additions to the list.
PROMETHEAN AMBITION
Marlowe, Christopher. Dr. Faustus. NY: Signet Classics, 2001.
McCaughrean, Geraldine. The White Darkness. NY: HarperTeen, 2008.
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. NY: Signet Classics, 1998.
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. NY: Scholastic, 1997.
CREATOR/CREATION RELATIONSHIPS
Anderson, M.T. The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing. NY: Candlewick, 2006.
Mannequin. Dir. Michael Gottlieb. Gladden Entertainment: 1987.
Pinnochio. Dir. Hamilton Luske. Walt Disney Productions: 1940.
Shaw, George Bernard. Pygmalion. NY: Signet Classics, 2006.
GENETIC ENGINEERING AND SCIENTIFIC ETHICS
Collins, Suzanne. Hunger Games. NY: Scholastic, 2008.
Crichton, Michael. Jurassic Park. NY: Ballantine, 1991.
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. NY: Harper, 2006.
Picoult, Jodi. My Sister’s Keeper. NY: Washington Square Press, 2009.
Westerfield, Scott. Uglies. NY: Thorndike Press, 2007.
A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
29
DOPPELGANGERS/SHADOW-SELVES
Brenner, Marie. Doppelganger. NY: Aspect, 2006.
Cabot, Meg. Airhead. NY: Point, 2009.
Meyer, Stephanie. The Host. NY: Little, Brown, 2008.
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. NY: Signet Classics, 2003.
PATRIARCHY AND THE ROLE OF WOMEN
Bunce, Elizabeth. A Curse Dark as Gold. NY: Levine, 2008.
Levin, Ira. The Stepford Wives. NY: Harper, 2002.
Tennyson, Lord Alfred. The Lady of Shallot. 1833, 1842.
GOTHIC NOVELS
Bray, Libba. Great and Terrible Beauty. NY: Delacorte, 2005.
Meyer, Stephanie. Twilight. NY:, Little, Brown: 2006.
Smith, L.J. Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and the Struggle. NY: HarperTeen, 2007.
EPISTOLARY NOVELS (NOVELS OF LETTERS)
Cabot, Meg. The Princess Diaries. NY: HarperTeen, 2000.
Fielding, Helen. Bridget Jones’s Diary. NY: Penguin, 2001.
Shaffer, Mary Ann, and Annie Barrows. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
NY: Dial Press, 2009.
Walker, Alice. The Color Purple. NY: Harvest, 2006.
FRAME STORIES
Chaucer, William. The Canterbury Tales. NY: Penguin Classics, 2009.
Forrest Gump. Dir. Robert Zemeckis. Paramount Pictures, 1994.
Goldman, William. The Princess Bride. NY: Harcourt, 2007.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dir. Victor Fleming. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1939.
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A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS GUIDE
Laura Reis Mayer is a High School Instructional Coach in Asheville, North Carolina. A
National Board Certified Teacher, she serves as Support Provider for National Board
Candidates in her district. She taught middle, high school, and college English for sixteen
years and has facilitated numerous workshops at state and regional conferences on teacher
coaching, Senior Project, National Board Certification, and literacy. She is also the
author of A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classics Edition of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s
House, A Teacher’s Guide to The Signet Classics Edition of George Bernard Shaw’s
Pygmalion and My Fair Lady and A Teacher’s Guide to The Signet Classics Edition
of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus.
ABOUT THE EDITORS OF THIS GUIDE
JEANNE M. McGLINN, Professor in the Department of Education at the University
of North Carolina at Asheville, teaches Children’s and Adolescent Literature and directs
the field experiences of 9-12 English licensure candidates. She is a Board member of NC
English Teachers Association and the Children’s Literature and Reading SIG of the IRA.
She has written extensively in the area of adolescent literature, including a critical book
on the historical fiction of adolescent writer Ann Rinaldi for Scarecrow Press Young Adult
Writers series.
JAMES E. McGLINN, Professor of Education at the University of North Carolina at
Asheville, teaches methods of teaching and reading courses. He has taught high school
English, and his research interests currently focus on motivating and increasing the
reading achievement of students in high school and college.
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